Vitapex can promote the expression of BMP-2 during the bone regeneration of periapical lesions in rats

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Vitapex on the healing of periapical lesions and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) during the periapical bone regeneration. Materials and Methods: Periapical lesions were induced in Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats by an occlusal pulp exposure in the mandibular first molars and were verified by X-ray. Total of 36 rats were randomly divided into three groups, and they were obturated with Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE), or with Vitapex, or non-treated as negative control group. The rats of three groups were randomly killed at week 0, 2, 4, and 8 after root canal therapy, and then the mandibles were processed for histological examination and immunohistochemistry analysis. Results: At week 0, only a few BMP-2 positive cells could be observed in all rats. While the expression of BMP-2 was dramatically increased in case of Vitapex group at week 2 and week 4, and then climaxed at week 8. However, no apparent changes were observed in ZOE group and negative group at week 2, 4, and 8. Conclusion: These observations suggested that Vitapex has a greater ability in inducing bone regeneration than ZOE by the expression of BMP-2 induction in the treatment of rats experimental periapical lesions.

Keywords

• Apical periodontitis
• BMP-2
• bone regeneration
• Vitapex